There are many memorable ladies in the world of musical theater and among the best known is one of the creations of composer/lyricist Jerry Herman: Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi.

She is constantly recreated on stages around the world, the latest area incarnation being the Elkhart Civic Theatre production of “Hello, Dolly!” which opened Friday evening in the Bristol Opera House.

Even if you have never seen the entire production it’s a sure bet you can at least hum the title tune, possibly thanks to the late Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong whose recording took it to the top of the ‘60’s pop charts..

The original Broadway production opened in 1964, won 10 of the 11 Tony Awards for which it was nominated, played more than 2,800 performances and made a star of Carol Channing, who played her signature role again in two of the three Broadway revivals.

Based on Thornton Wilder’s 1938 farce “The Merchant of Yonkers” which became his 1958 farce ‘The Matchmaker,” the story of the meddling widow whose expertise in fixing everyone’s problems leads to innumerable mix-ups before the predictable happy endings still has a universal appeal, not the least of it due to its bubblingly tuneful score.

The ECT production, under the direction of Jerry O’Boyle, is an excellent example of what community theater does best: Creating a cohesive company with available talent.

The assignment of creating the indefatigable Mrs. Levi is handled with laudable aplomb by Rachel Raska. Distributing “business” cards which declare her available for matchmaking, dance lessons and anything in between, she advances to her ultimate goal of making the “well-known half-a-millionaire,” miserly, misogynistic Horace Vandergelder of Yonkers, N.Y. (a properly dour David Dufour), her next husband.

The bravado she displays during her not-so-subtle assault is tempered with pleas for a sign of approval from her late spouse and a score of hummable melodies to mark the way.

Among her other “clients” are two overworked, underpaid employees in Vandergelder’s feed store, Cornelius Hackl (Jacob Medich) and Barnaby Tucker (Matt Ambrosen). They take advantage of the boss’s absence to have their own adventure — a trip to New York City — with the ladies they meet in a hat shop, widowed owner Irene Molloy (Sandy Hill) and her giggly assistant Minnie Fay (Molly Hill).

Medich has a strong, mellow baritone that is best used in the lovely ballad “It Only Takes A Moment,” and provides solid support in the small ensemble numbers “Elegance” and ”Dancing.”

As assistant director and vocal director, Medich is behind the excellent chorus work in the many all-company numbers including the opening “I Put My Hand In,” “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before The Parade Passes By” and, of course, “Hello, Dolly!” all of which are worth the price of admission.

The last-named follows “The Waiter’s Gallop,” a deliberately frantic dance number choreographed smartly by Tom Myers that is always a show-stopper, even when, as in this case, it also is a gallop for some waitresses. The mixed group does nothing to lessen the impact of the sharply delineated and extremely energetic dance.

Set in the summer of 1895, the scenic design by John Shoup, who also was a member of the ensemble, signals a delightful return to the “good old days” when memory tends to shade everything in cotton candy hues. It definitely is lovely to look at and, as always, transforms quickly with minimum distraction.

With the exception of Dolly’s traditional red Harmonia Gardens gown, Karen Payton’s costume design follows the same soft color palate. Only the sparkle-infused material used for several of the dresses seems out of time.

O’Boyle opted to use an orchestral sound track which supplies a solid base for solos and chorus numbers — all of which come with their own built-in reprises — as well as filling in scene changes.

It just makes listening to Herman’s award-winning score that much more pleasurable.

“HELLO, DOLLY!” plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Bristol Opera House on SR 120 in Bristol. For show times and reservations, call (574) 848-4116 between 1 and 5:30 p.m. weekdays or visit www.elkhartcivictheatre.org